Practised observers of the papal conclave, which got underway in Rome yesterday, have described the first black smoke to emerge from the Sistine Chapel chimney as ‘thick, potent, and smelling suspiciously of weed’.

In the wake of the shock decision by X Factor producers to axe female judge Tulisa Contostavlos from the Show, the Vatican has come to her rescue by inviting her to join the conclave of Cardinals in Vatican City as they start the process to select a new pope.